Stress epidemic strikes American forces in Iraq
The war’s over, but the suicide rate is high and the army is riddled with acute psychiatric problem.
Up to one in five of the American military personnel in Iraq will suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, say senior forces’ medical staff dealing with the psychiatric fallout of the war.
At least 22 US soldiers have killed themselves – a rate considered abnormally high – mostly since President George Bush declared an end to major combat on 1 May last year.